Method for distilling oils



Aug 23,' 193.2- w. F. MOORE METHOD FOR DISTILLING OILS 4 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed July l2, 192.8

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METHOD-FOR DISTILLING oILs Filed Ju1y 12, 1928 4 sheets-sheet 2.

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W. F. MOORE METHOD FOR DISTILLING OILS 4 Sheets-sheet 4 Filed July l2. 1928 5mm/nto@ Patented Aug. 23, 1932 UNITED STATES` PATENT OFFICE WILLIAI F. IOOBE, OF JACKSON HEIGHTS, NEW YORK, ABBIGN'OR T0 THE TEXAS COH- PANY, OF NEW YORK, N. Y., CORPORATION 0F DELAWARE m01) IOR DISTILLING OILS Application' led J'uly 12,

This invention relates primarily to asys--n tem for the distillation of heavy oils, such as residues taken from the stills of a pressure cracking system or the heavy residual tars resulting from the fractional distillation of crude oils. Certain crude oils may themselves .be employed as the charge for the system contemplated, particularly where they do not contain any very, great percentage o'f the lo lighter fractions.

4 .It is a particular object of the invention to provide a system wherein heavy oils of the character specified may be converted into a large percentage of volatile constituents and leave behind only a small percentage of solid coke or carbon primarily in a granular or pulverous form. Thisresult is intended to be f brought about preferably without any subrstant-ial degree of cracking, although a greater amount of cracking may take place if desired.

Heretofore, the coking of heavy oils, such as contemplated, has been carried out on more or less of a. batch operation basis through the use of large drums or coking stills in which a relatively large body of oil is heated until onlya very heavy tar or acoky residue remains.

When this point has been reached, these coking stills have had to be shut down for the ao purpose of cleaning out the coke which has deposited on the bottom and side walls of the drum. An ob'ect of the present invention has been to provide a coking system which is adapted to be continuously operated and one in which the charge that is continuously fed into the stem has all .of its v 'olatilel constituents driven 0E, leaving as residue only a finely divided form of carbon, which may be readily removed from time to time, or even continuously, from theeystem. Toward this end it is contemplated effecting the volatilization of the oil while it is in suspension in the form of a finely divided spray or mist within a highly heated chamber.

With these and other incidental objects and advantages in view,.the invention will now be described in detail by reference to the accompanying drawings which form a part hereof.4

50 Of the drawings, Figure 1 is a diagram- Bussum) matic representation of one form of apparatus embodying the features of the present invention. l

Figure 2 is a sectional view through the chamber and furnace along the line 2-2 of u Figure 1.

Figure 3 is a dia ammatic showing in elevation of a modi ed form of ap aratus adapted to operate in accordance `w1th the invention. 4 o

Figure 4 is a diagrammaticl showing inplan view of a form of chambers and furnace that may be employed in the system of Figure 3.

Figure 5 illustrates, in side elevation, one 05 of the chambers that may beemployed in the system of Figure 3.

Referring now to Figure 1, the charge of pressure still bottoms, .or crude residum, or similar material which it is desired to reduce to coke may be fed from any suitable storage by' means of a pump 10 to a heatingv coil' 11 suitably mounted within-a furnace 12.l It is contemplated that a substantial pressure will be maintained on the oil in circulating it 75 through the coil 11 and this'may, for example, range between 200 and 800 pounds, while the temperature of the oil at the outlet end of the coil may be between 700 and 900F. The heated oil may` beled under pressure su through a transfer line 13 having a valve 14 to one or more spray nozzles 15 suitably mounted at the top of an'enlarged'chamber 16. In passing through the spray nozzle, the pressure will preferably be substantially completely relieved, or will at least be materially reduced. The chamber may suitably be about 40 feet in height and about 10 feet in diameter. under the preferred'operation, will be sub- 90 stantially atmospheric, desirably less than one pound above atmospheric, it is not necessary to providevery thick walls for the chamber. It is mounted within ia furnace 17 where a large area of its wall, particularly d'5 at the mid-portion, is subjected to a relatively high temperature; for4 example, the wall 1928. Serial No. 292,283.

may be heated to such an extent that'its in- Since the pressure within it, Y

800' and 19.00 F. therein. If only a single chamber is employed, the furnace may well assume a circular form, as best shown in Figure 2. Heat may advantageously be applied by means of a series of burners 18 which may be arranged tangentially in the manner shown so as to provide for a circulatory movement of the heated lue gases.

Now, it will be .clear that as the previously heated oil is discharged into the chamber. through the nozzles 15, bringing about a very substantial reduction in pressure, a large percentage of the oil will be immediately volatil- Aized. Furthermore, as the remainin heavier portions descend in their finely divi ed spray form, they will be subjected to the additional f tom of the chamber.

. the vapors which are released or generated in the manner indicated will be carried out at the top of the chamber through a vapor line 19 to a condenser 20 and collection receptacle or separator 2'1. If desired, the va pors might be subjected to immediate fractionation without being passed through the condenser 20. As an aid to the volatilization of the liquid ortions of the incoming charge, steam may he injected into the system through a line 22 merging with the charge linev for the oilat, or in Aadvance of, the spray nozzles. Preferably, it will be introduced directly into the nozzle in such a way as to aid in the atomizing action of the latter, although it may be introduced independently into the top of the chamber, if desired.

In order to enable the removal of the carbon whichcollects in finely divided form at the base of the chamber, a double hopper construction is provided. This may consist of a partition wall v24 having pivoted at its upper end a trap-door 25. This may be inclined upwardly from the center of the chamber and may be adapted to alternately close oil' two sect-ions or compartments at the lower end of the chamber. A pair of trap-doors 26 and 27 may control the discharge v,of the carbon particles fromthese compartments. It will be apparent that by swinging the door 25 to one side, or the other, either compartment may be made toreceive the carbon, as desired. The double hopper construction is provided for the-purpose of preventing the entry of air into the chamber at a time .when the carbon is being discharged. Thus, any that may bede osited in the compartment above the trapoor 2.6, may bedropped into a suitable container 28, or any form of conveyor, while more carbon 1s e ing collected in the compartment above the door 27 and y vice versa. Preferably, the lower end of the chamber where the coky particles collect will ybe outside of the furnace so that it will be somewhat cooler than the upper portion. This will eliminate any tendency for the carbon particles to form a more solid mat. Similarly, the provision of steam connections 23 for the'direct introduction of *steamr at this point will aid inthe prevention of solid coke formation. At the same time the steam in absorbing heat from the carbon particles will become superheated to a. greater extent and will rise into the chamber to further aid the action therein.

It may be found desirable to provide the chamber 16 with a suitable form of scraper mechanism forl the purpose of removing any carbon which may be deposited on thev walls. However, by properly directing the spray from the nozzles 15 away from the Walls 0f the chamber, the necessity for the employment of Scrapersl may be largely eliminated.

While the double hopper construction at the base of the chamber Willlserve to prevent access of air to the interior during the removal of carbon, the maintenance of a slight pressure vwithin the chamber 16 will provide a further safeguard against the introduction of air, which might result in an explosion.

Any suitable means may be provided for supplying heat to the furnace 12; for example, a duct 29 from the furnace 17 may serve to conduct the heated flue gases from the latter so that by convection they may transmit their heat to the coil 11. A separate y chamber 16 of Figure 1. This is for the purpose of increasing the capacity of the system v and for adapting it morereadily to the employment of a larger number of jets, or spray nozzles. Thus, the charge of oil may be forced by al pump 3() through a number of heat exchange units 300 and 301 and thence by a line 31 to a heating coil 32 in a furnace 33. The charge in passing through the coil may be maintained under a substantial press sure and may be then passed by a ltransfer line 34 to a plurality ofbranchdines 35, (Figures 4 and 5), each provided with aspray nozzle 36. In order that any one or more of the branch lines35 may be taken out of operation at will, suitable valves 37 may be provided therein. The nozzles 36 are mounted in the upper ends of a plurality of chambers 38 which are preferably rectangular in cross section, or, ifdesired, may be somewhat elliptical in cross section, or may be'provided with semi-circular end-walls. Each chamber may, for example, be four feet by twelvej feet in cross section and, say, forty feet in height. If only a single nozzle is desired in each of the chambers, then the circular form indicated in Figures 1 and 2 may be adopted.

The nozzles will serve to releasethe pressure i to substantially atmospheric and should be form of vapors overhead through a line 48l lof the chambers.

of a type adaptedto form a relatively iiat but wide spray, such as provided by a flat-flame burner. This will enable the lemployment of a plurality of jets in the manner indicated in Figures 4 and 5 within each of the chambers. Steam will preferably be injected into the system through the nozzles in such a way as to aid in the atomization of the oil. For this purpose steam-lines 39 may be provided with valve-controlled branch `lilies 40 to each of the nozzles.

- A suitable furnace 41 heated from any source such as a series of burners 42 appropriately located along both sides of the furnace may surround the mid-portions of all Just as in the form disclosed in Figure 1, the heated gases may, upon leaving the furnace41, be passed by a. duct 43 to the furnace 33 surrounding the coil 32 to supplement the separate heating source in the `form of burners which may be provided for this coil. A pair of vapor lines 44, having branch'connections 45 with the tops of the several chambers at their opposite ends, may serve to convey the volatilized portions of the charge to a line 46, which will convey them to a separating tower 47. Here the lighter constituents mav pass out in the to a condenser 49 and storagereceptacle 50. The heavier constituents of the vapors entering the tower 47 may be condensed therein and may be drawn 0E from the base and passed through the heat exchanger 301, already mentioned, and thence to storage. Obviously, if desired, the tower may `be eliminated and all of the vapors may be condensed together and sent to a single storagereceptacle. For the purpose of periodically removing the finely divided particles of carbon that collect in each of the chambers, a double hop.

per construction similar to that shown in Figure l may be provided. Thus, referring to Figure '3, each chamber may be provided at its lower end with a pair of carbon-receiving hoppers or pockets 51 and 52, one or the other of which is always in communication with the chamber while the lother is 4closed voff by means' of a swinging door 53 pivoted at the upper end of the division wall between the hoppers. As any of the hoppers fill up the door 53 may be swung to theopposite side to close of that hopper from the chamber and a trap-door54 at the base of the hopper may be Jopened to dump the carbon into a car or other receptacle. If desired, a single, large hopper might be rovided to extend beneath all ofthe cham ers, in which case only aV single pocket would have `to be provided at the lower end of each chamber f7 which would be dilicult to remove.

While several admirable forms of the invention have been disclosed in the foregoing sections, and certain specific dimensions an operating conditions have been'mentloned,l

it is to be understood that this disclosure is merely for the purpose of illustration and that numerous modifications may be made without departing from the spirit of the invention. Itis not desired to be limited in its scope other than by the terms of the claims which follow.

What I claim is: i

1. The process of converting heavy hydrocarbon oil into distillate and coke which comprises, heating the oil under relatively hi h .superatmospheric pressure,| expanding the heated oil in the form of a spray into the top of a vertically disposed elongated chamber maintained under relatively low rassure and free from products of combustion, permitting the liquid component droplets of the sprayed oil to descend in the chamber while introducing steam into the bottom of the Without hi h agitation counter current to thev downwar y moving droplets, lmaintaining a temperature in the chamber suicient to evaporate Athe volatileconstituents of said droplets during their vdownward movement,

permitting the resultant coke particles roduced from said droplets tol continue t ei'r downward movement, and collecting said coke particles in thev bottom of said chamber for removal.

2. The process of converting hea carbon` oil into distillate and coke at comprises heating the oil in a stream under superatmospheric pressure, expanding the heated oil in a spray into the top of a vertically disposed elon ated chamber maintained under substantial y atmospheric pressure and free from products of combustionV and wherein no liquid level is maintained, permitting the droplets or liquid components of the s rayed oil to descend in the chamber whi e the and out-of the evolved vapors pass upwardl tem cient peralecting the resultant co e particles at the bottom of the chambenand injecting steam hydrona Y' iss at the droplets of deinto the bottom of the chamber through the mas'sv of Vcoke so collected to prevent' the formation of large mats'of coke-which would he difficult to remove. v

In Witness whereof I have hereunto set lmy hand thisQth day of`Ju1y,`1928.

WILLIAM F. MOORE. 

